Wire-bending machine



` l 1,412,543 Oct' 30 1923' A. wi BEE'RE' WIRE BENDING MACHINE FilelAOot. '7. 1922 l 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 u "50 e5 24 ,5 \S

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aan 327' 252023 52 a5 Y .Zma/zf A. W ee/*19 oci. 3o '1923. 1,472,543 A. W. BEERE WIRE BENDING MACHINE Filed Oct. v, 1922 2 Sheets-Sham 2 Patented ct. 3G, i923.

.ARTHUR WYNDHAM BEERE, 0F AUCKLANI), NEW'ZEAAND, ASSIGNOR T0' ANGLE Y )3R-ACE COLLAPSIBLE BOX COMPANY, LIMITED, 0F AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND. i

WIRE-BENDING IVACHINE.

application sied october 7, 1922. y.serial no. acacia To all ttf/m. may; concert/1.

Re it known that ARTHUR v"vrrnnAM: Bienen, a citizen of Dominion of New Zealand, residing at 8 Prospect Place, Auckland, in the Provincial District of Auckland,

has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire-Bending Machines, of

which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to means employed lo for producing from lengths of wire. or other similar material, forms of varying shapes.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine especially adapted to prodnce fromv lengths of wire, hoop iron, or similar material rectangular or other formations having a. number of fla-t sides.

The improved machine, comprises a r tary face plate provided with a number ot projections or formera and gripping jaws, the lat-ter being designed and actuated to grip the wire or thelilte which is led to the face plate under tension, so that the rotary movement of the face plate, causes the wire or the like to be bent or shaped around the projections or farmers and so produce formations of the shape desired..

Provision is also made by means of a cutter mounted on the face plate, for severing the completed formations, from the length of wire or the like led to the face plate, said cutter and the gripping jaws being operated by the action of rollers in running against stationary curved or cani members, as the face plate rotates.

The projections or forniers, the grippingv jaws, and the cutter are adjustably mounted on the face plate in order lthat formations of the desired size and shape can be produced.

Any suitable driving mechanism can be employed for rotating the face plate, while the wire or other material from which the format-ions are to he produced, is kept under tension by being passed around returding means, suc-h as a brake ,drurn. Y

The machine and its operation will however be more particularly described in conjunction with theA accompanying drawings, in .whichz- Figure l is a Side elevation of the machine and l iFigure 2 a front view thereof. j

Figure 3 is an .enlarged part sectional -plan taken on the linens-1A, ll. .`,giire f2.

Figure 4 is afront view showing the arrangement-of the stationary vmembers havj ing the curved and cani Vsurfaces againstV which the 4rollers responsible `for the operation of the gripping jaws and the cutter work. i i

Figure 5 isanend view enlarged of one of the guides in which are held bars transmitting movement rollers to the gripping jaws and the cutter.

Figure 6 is an end view enlarged showing the manner of mounting on the face plate one of the fittings which carry the gripping jaws and the cutter.

Figure 7 is a part detail view in plan of the cutter operating means.

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view .on theY line B-B, Figure 7.

Figures 9 and l() are an elevationandV side view respectively-'of one of the quadrants attachable to the faceplate for holding the projections or formers around which the wire or the like is bent. I

Figures 1l and l2 are an elevation and an end view respectively of one of vthe projections or for-mers around which the wre is bent.

Figures 13 and 14 are anelevation and a Y cross sectional view respectively of a tal pered washer, for fitting on the wire bending projections orormers.

Figure 15 illustrates in plan the cutter. The tace plate l is keyed ona shaft mounted in bearings 3, supported `by a 'traine et, said shaft being driven through any suit-- able gear such `as a wc-rm wheel 5,. actuated by a worm on a shaft 7. the `latter having mounted thereona stepped pulley 8 whereby different speeds can be obtained.

The tace plate l contains a number of radial slots 9 arranged in pairs, each pair of slots 9, `fc.cilitating the adjustment on the plate l of a quadrant l0 Figures 1,2,9 and l0). i

The quadrants l0 are -ormed with bosses l1 `the inner ide of each of which is cutat from the aforesaidy right angles to the quadrant and is provided with a pair of lugs 12. @ne ofsaid lug-s l2 is out where it joins the quadrant as at 12L (Figure l0) said out extending into the boss 11. the result of which is that the latter is enabled to be clamped by means of a bolt l5 passing through the lugs 12 tightly around. a pfeiaetea el" ferm-e1? 15T: lf

shank of the latter being inserted in the boss 11.

Each projection or former 14 has its outer end 14a made fiat sided in order to produce a well defined corner around which wire or the like can be bent (Figures 11 and 12).

Nhen inserted in the bosses 11, the shanlrs of the projections or formers 14 project sufiiciently to enable cone shaped washers 15 to be placed thereon, ythe bases of said washers being presented to the bosses 11 (Figures 1, 2, 13 and 14.)

The quadrants 10 contain radical slots 16 struck from the centres of the bosses 11 and are adapted to he scoured to the face plate 1 by means of bolts 17 passed through the slots 9 and 16, By these; means the quadrants 10 are enabled to be adjusted to bring the projections or formers 14 `to any position on the face plate 1, within the limits of the slots 9 and 16 and so enable formations of the desired shape to be produced ou bending wire or the like around saidprojections or formers 14.

Secured across the face plate 1 is a bar i8, and slidable on the latter are fittings 19, 20, each of which is capable of being clamped in any position on said bar, by a bolt 21 passing through lugs 22 (Figure 6).

These ttings each carry a pairofgripping jaws 23, 24 while the fit-ting 19 also carries the cutter 53.

Of the jaws 23, 24 the jaw 24 is in ealch case a fixture while the jaw 23 in each case is keyed on one end of a small shaft 26 which passes through a boss 2T and has keyed on its other end one end of a lever 23 (Figure 3) the other end of which is connected by a rod 29 with a lever 30 fulcrummed at one end either tothe fitting 19 or 20, and slotted at'the other end as at 30?.

Behind the bar 18 and in direct alignment with each other and also slidable in guides 31 secured to the rear of the face plate 1 are rods 32, one of which has its inner end formed with a projection 33 to enter a recess 34 in the otherof said rods for the purpose of preserving their alignment (Fig-ure 3).

On each rod 32 near its inner end is fixed a collar 34a while between said collars and surrounding the meeting ends of said rods 32, a compression spring 35 is placed, A sleeve 36 is placedover said spring 35 for the purpose of further preserving the alignment of the rods 32.

The rods 32 are fiat sided with a screw thread formed on the corners, and each rod has slidable thereon a fitting 37 from which a pin 37a projects and enters the slot 3()a of one of the levers 30. The fittings 37 are held `against sliding movement on the rods 32 by nuts 38 screwing thereon, while the flat sides of said rods 32 prevent the Fittings 37 from turning. Y f

Near its outer end each rod 32 has projecting therefrom a pin 38 said pincarrying a roller 39 and passing through a slot 40 in a guide 31 (Figure 5) whereby end movement of the rods 32 is not interfered with.

The moving jaws 23 are mounted so that when. one jaw 23 is closed against its fellow jaw 24 the other aw 25 is moved away from its fellow aw 24.

The rollers 39 on'the face plate 1 being rotated'in the direction indicated run around the outside of the stationary curved guide 41, and against the inner side of the fixed cam member 42 as indicated in Figure 4.

Also mounted behind the bar 18 and operating vbelow the rods 32 and also in the guides 31 is a sliding bar 43 (Figures 1, 2, 5, 7 and 3) designed to be given end movenient by means of a roiler 44 mounted on i the fitting' 45 clamped ou said bar` (Figures 7 and 3) running' upwards against the inner edge of the stationary cam member 46 and over and downwards on the stationary cam. member 47.

The bar 43 has projecting therefrom a pin (Figure 7) which is entered in a slot 49 in the outer endY of a lever 50V the inner end of which is keyed on one end of the shaft 51 which passes through a boss 52 on the fitting 19, and has keyed on its other end the cutter 53, the latter operating in conjunction with the fixed jaw 24 on the fitting 19.

The bar 43 is provided with a series of holes 43ste enable the connection between the bar 43 and lever 50 to be established at diiierent points, which isrendered necessary when the fittings 19, 2O are adjusted on the bar 18 to accommodate the jaws 23, 24 and cutter to the shape and size of the formation being produced around the projections or formers 14.

Thecurved guide 41, and cam members 42, 46 and 47 are supported from a casting vor member 54- secured Yto the frame of the machine.

1n practice the wire, hoop iron or the like 25 from which the formations are to be produced is coiled 'on a. rotary spool, and after being passed one or' more times around a brake drum or other apparatus which will maintain a tension on the wire or the like is leo. to one of the pairs of gripping jaws 23, 24 preferably those jaws on the iitting 20, n

` in order that the aws 23, 24 will be open to receive the wire or the like 25 the faceplace 1 is rotated so that the jaws in question will be uppermost and so that the roller 39 on the rod 32 relating to the movable jaw 23 of said pair will occupy the position of the uppermost roller 39 shown in Figure 4. In this position the rod 32 carrying the uppermost roller 39 isvv by the contact of the latter Awith the inner edge of the@ cam member 42 forced inwards or towards the jaw 23 and compresses fthe gspning.

`After the end .oi the wire for the like 25 has been placed between the .uppermost jaws 23, 24 the ,'ace plate 1 is rotated in the Ydirection indicated and ,as soon als .the uppermost roller 239 clears Y:the upper end of the came-member VV42, the rod 32 carrying said 4,roller is YVforced y'outwards vby 'the expansion'o'f the spring 35, the effectof which is Ithat the wire vis gripped between Ithe uppermost movable jaw 2,3 and its fellow lived jaw 24.

Continued rotation of l.the face plate 1 causes the upper-most roller 39.-.t0 ,frun outside .the eunved lguide 4:1,athe result-,of which is to vlock .said jaws .23., :24gagainst opening and ensure `a positive :grip of the wire `011 the Vlike 25 being maintained.

The wire or the ,like 25 is rthen strained and drawn `from the :brake dnu-m or the like @and caused 4to :be bent or shaped around the ,projections or 'former-s 14, owingto the rotation of the platel.

VDuring the time ithe uppermost roller 39 descends from its highest Aposition yto its lowest zposition, the 4grip whichtsaid 2roller controls `'cannot alter .owing ito the .roller running `outside .the guide 41.

As the roller 39 passes from below or clear of the lower .end :of Athe guide 41, it makes contact with `the inner edge of the cam member 42 the shape ot which forces the roller 39 and the rod 32 on which it is carried inwards, the efect of which is that the grip of the wire or the like 25 controlled by said roller 39 is released, owing to the jaw 23 being forced away from the fixed jaw 24 under the inward movement of the rod 32. The jaws 23, 24 as they ascend are opened and maintained open by the cam member 42 until such time as a fresh grip of the wire or the like 25 is obtained, by the roller 39 clearing the upper end of the cam member 42 as before mentioned.

Descending jaws 23, 24 are kept closed by the guide 41 until such time as the roller 39 relating to such jaw clears the lower end of the guide 41 and commences to move inwards on making contact with the cam member 42.

As one pair of jaws 23, 24 opens and ascends the other pair 23, 24 closes on the wire or the like 25 and descends, to ensure the latter being bent completely around the projections or formers 14.

Once in each revolution of the face plate 1, the cutter 53 is operated to sever the completed formation from the length of wire or the like 25.

This action is brought about as the jaws 23, 24 on the fitting 19 descend by the roller 44 running upwards against the inner edge of the cam member 46, the result of which is .that `,the bar 43 is ,given end --movement and Ycauses the vcutter .53 fte-,sever .the Icornpleted ,formation 'from vthe length of Awire or thelike 25, in .advance ofthej'aws 23,24

so as to leave the ynew end of `the wireor the llikegrijpped between said jaws.

The wire or the like 25 is lled to -thej-projections'or ormers 1A-seas to bear against the cone shaped washers 15 thereon in order that V the .oncoming wire will always wind around the yprojections lor lformers 14 inside the completed formation and so force the .latter yoff the projections yor Vformer-s 14 onthe frormationbeing `completely released by l.the gripping jaws.

YVha-t 5I do claim and desire to obtain `by Letters Patent of :the United `States pf America is 1. Means for the purpose set Vfort-h, cornprising a rotary faceplate, spaced proj ections on the latter around which wire be wound byzthe rotation of the plate, wire gripping jaws, a cutter mounted 'on said faceplate, rollers operatively vconnected :to said jaws and cutter, :and stationary vguides and cam Imembers :engaged by :said yrollers as said plate rotates.

:2. Means as claimed l:in-claim ,1 in which the'V gripping jaws 'are arranged in pairs, Qne jaw oit' each pair 1being fixe'd and fthe other jaw being movable, ,levers and connecting rods :connected rto :said `.movable jaws, and rods connected to certain of said levers and carrying said rollers.

3. Means as claimed in claim 1 in which the projections are adjustable toward and from each other.

4. Means as claimed in claim 1 including quadrants `connected to said projections and containingslots, said face plate being also provided with slots, and bolts passing through the slots of the quadrants and the :tace plate for adjustably securing the quadrants in place.

5. Means as claimed in claim 1 in which the outer ends of the projections are flattened to produce well defined corners, coneshaped washers arranged on said` projections, split bosses grasping said projections and quadrant carrying the bosses and mounted on said face plate.

6. Means as claimedA in claim 1 in which the cutter is operatively connected to a lever, which is in turn operatively connected to the roller that engages certain of said stationary guides and cam members.

7. Means as claimed in claim 1 including rods carrying certain of said rollers and arranged end to end and in alignment with each other, a spring for normally holding said rods apart, and means connecting certain of said jaws with said rods.

8. Means for the purpose set forthincluding a rotatable face plate, a pivoted cutter associated with the face plate, an axially movable rod connected to the cutter, and

slidable in a plane parallel to the plane ofv rotation of the face plate, a roller on said rod, and fixed cams arranged to engage said roller for reciprocating said rod.

9. Means as claimed in claim l in which the stationary guides and cams are arranged in pairs, each pair including an inner and an outer guide, the contacter a roller with the outer edge of the inner guidel being adapted to maintain the jaws closed and the contact of said roller with the inner edge of the other guide of the pair being adapted to maintain the jaws in open position.

10. Means as claimed in claim l in which the gripping jaws are arranged in an adjustable manner on a bar carried by the face plate, said gripping jaws being slidable along said bar.

l1. Means as claimed in claim l in which the gripping-jaws are provided with operative levers, a.bar carried by the face plate and angular in cross section, the edges or" the bar being threaded, ittings slidably mounted on said bar and engaging said levers, and nuts engaging the threads of the bar for adjusting said fittings.

l2. Means as claimed in claim l in which the cutter is p-rovided with an operating slotted lever, a slidable bar carrying the cutter operating roller and having a series of apertures, and a bolt adapted to engage either of said apertures and passing through the slot in said lever.

13. Means as claimed in claim l in which the jaws are provided with slotted operating levers, pins passing throughr the slots of the levers, and a rod connecting said pins to the jaw operating rollers.

lei. In means for the purpose set forth, stationary curved guides and cam members, sliding rods, a rotary face plate carrying saidl rods, rollers on said rods adapted by the rotation of the plate to contact with said guides and cam members, and

gripping jaws and a cutter operated b-y said sliding rods.

15. A wire working machine including a rotary face plate provided with substantially radial slots, fastening elements passing through said slots, quadrants having arc-shaped slots engaged by said fastening elements, projections carried by the quadrants and adapted to receive wire to be wound, gripping jaws carried by the face plate and adapted to alternately engage the wire, and means for alternately actuating said gripping jaws. j

In testimony whereof I have ailixed my signature in resence of two Witnesses.

ART UR WYNDHAM BEERE.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM PRICES, MARY PILKINGTON. 

